By A nongovernmental organisation, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the blocking of three websites associated with the recent #EndSARS protests, describing it as a violation of the freedom of expression.
In a statement on Tuesday by its Communication Officer, Idowu Adewale, the group said the action was illegal and contradicts international standards for human rights law. The MRA noted that the blocking of these websites has no legitimate basis as no law in Nigeria authorises such.
The affected websites are www.feministcoalition2020.com, www.endsars.com, and www.radioisiaq.com which are currently inaccessible from Nigeria.
Head of MRA’s Legal Department, Ms Chioma Nwaodike, as quoted in the statement, said the Nigerian government is bound by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) “which requires that any restriction on the right to freedom of expression must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim, as well as necessary and proportional.”
She stated that the government through its decision to block the websites has turned to a judge in its own case, taking the law into its own hands which amounts to total disregard to constitutional rights of the citizens.
